Dylan Bundy to pitch in extended spring training game and other Orioles notes

Dan ConnollyThe Baltimore Sun

Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy is progressing toward another step in his recovery from Tommy John elbow ligament surgery last June.

Bundy is expected to throw one inning in an extended spring training game Tuesday in Sarasota, Fla.

It will mark the first time since March 2012 that he has pitched against hitters outside of the Orioles organization. An extended spring training game typically is between players from two different organizations who are still working out or rehabbing in Florida. The Orioles often play extended spring teams on the west coast of Florida, such as the Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.

Bundy, 21, was the fourth pick overall in the 2011 amateur draft and was listed this year as the organization’s top rated prospect by Baseball America, despite being out of action with the elbow injury. He has been throwing simulated games -- with hitters stepping into the batter’s box against him -- but this week will be his first game action.

Pitchers usually need a year to recover from Tommy John surgery, and though the Orioles will not put an exact timeline on Bundy, the hope has been that he could return to affiliated baseball by this June -- and maybe will be able to help the Orioles in the second half of the season.

If Bundy ends up at Double-A Bowie at any point, he could be joining a pretty talented rotation there.

Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, ranked by Baseball America as the organization’s third-best prospect, is expected to return to Double-A Bowie to pitch May 22. Dealing with a knee sprain, the 21-year-old has been in extended spring training to rehab the injury. He has not pitched for the Baysox since April 14. He was 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in three starts.

Right-hander Zach Davies, 21, is expected to pitch for the Baysox on May 29. He has been sidelined since April 28 with shoulder tendinitis. He was 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA in four starts and struck out 10 in his last outing before hitting the DL.

By some point in June, it’s possible that Bowie will have a rotation that includes Bundy, Rodriguez, Davies and 23-year-old left-hander Tim Berry, among others.

Berry, the organization’s sixth-ranked prospect, is 2-1 with a 3.88 ERA in eight starts with Bowie this year.